Team PNoy warned: Lead in surveys may not hold

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sergio Osmena III warned colleagues in the administration that the dominance of Team PNoy candidates in the surveys may not hold until the election on May 13.

The senator gave the warning as some candidates and their supporters in the Liberal Party-backed coalition gloated over the Social Weather Station’s report that nine of the 12 Team PNoy senatorial bets would be in the Top 12 of the Senate race.

This was shortly followed by a subsequent announcement from Pulse Asia saying eight of the 12 Team PNoy candidates are likely to make it in the winning circle.

“When you take a survey, it’s like saying that when the election is held today, how would we vote? But it’s not accurate of the May elections, only as of today…Anything can happen…No one can say with any degree of confidence that the (current) ratios would be it,” Osmena said at the Kapihan sa Senado Thursday morning.

The senator pointed out specifically the closeness of the statistical scores of some candidates, making it very possible for them to edge out each other when election day comes.

A cursory check with Pulse Asia scores for example, showed Cagayan Representative jack Enrile at No. 11 with 36.6 percent while reelectionist Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is at No. 12 with 36.1 percent.

San Juan Rep. Juan Victor “JV” Estrada at No. 5 has 43.8 percent while No. 6, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino is not far behind with 43.2 percent. Nancy Binay at No. 7 has 42.5 percent while Grace Poe at No. 8 has 42.1 percent.

Osmena said the very small discrepancies could mean the rankings were still likely to change the candidates’ positions in the future.